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October 15, 2008 |
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Christ Chapel News
A Faith Home for You at Texas State |
S.E.E. the Light!
Estes Park, Colorado
The 2008 Gathering of Episcopal College and University students will be held December 28th, 2008 through January 1st, 2009 at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. Throughout our 5 days together, we will explore our theme of "Seek, Encounter, and Embody (SEE) the Light" with speakers, workshop leaders and with each other, while spending time in worship rooted in Episcopal traditions from around the world. Skiing, snowshoeing, and other activities taking advantage of Colorado's natural beauty will also be available. We hope you will join us as we GATHER to meet God, connect with other young Episcopalians, and celebrate the New Year in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Registration costs includes all meals, accommodation and program: Early bird (by Nov 15th) $285 Regular (by Nov 30th) $310 Late (until Dec 5th) 350 Additional Costs: $35 Ski/Snowboarding (Participant limit: 65. Priority will be given to those without skiing/snowboarding experience.) Skiing - $80 (includes return coach) Snowboarding - $80 (includes return coach) Snowshoeing - $20 (pay on site) Transportation to and from Colorado is covered by a grant through the Diocese of Texas; a chartered bus will pick up students at various sites throughout the state. AND HERE'S REALLY GOOD NEWS: Gobs of scholarship money is available on a first-come, first-served basis. You can enjoy a few days in the Rockies for not much! AND IT IS NOT JUST FOR EPISCOPALIANS! Students of every faith background are welcome to join us. Our own Tyler Pruessner is on the leadership team organizing the event, and it promises to be a great one. For more information, visit episcopalchurch.org/highereducation (the link is below), or call Chaplain Bouzard at 557-8836. If you are interested in going, let me know soon, so that scholarship money can be spent appropriately.
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Things to Look for...
United States Congressman Lloyd Doggett will join us on Wednesday evening, October 29th at 7:15 to talk about the ONE Campaign, an international effort to embrace the Millenial Goals of reducing global poverty. We will gather in the sanctuary of Christ Chapel. Come find out how in tough economic times, the need to address systemic causes of poverty is all the more critical.
Servants of the Cross is a program by which students who wish to make a deeper faith journey can enlist in a three-semester program of study, reflection, and retreats. Those completing the program will join the Servants, an order of students in ministry. Brochures and more information is available at the Christ Chapel office, and look for an annoucement regarding starting times and content in the weeks ahead.
Hunger Bowl, November 18-19 The first annual Hunger Bowl is a competition and event to raise money for the local food pantry and to establish a fund for students in crisis. Led by the Campus Ministry Alliance, we are pleased to have Marcus Green representing us; he will be contacting others for help. Frito Pie, anyone?
Reviews:
Presidential debates are the American equivalent of Roman gladitorial contests, except that there are no swords, maces, clubs or crowds calling for the loser to be executed. Okay, they're nothing like gladiatorial contests, although they do tend to appeal to our baser interests and not to the matters that matter. I don't care who looked most presidential; I want to know if I will have a job next month. Alas. Maybe plastic swords next time?
Kath and Kim
(NBC Thursdays at 7:30) There are some comedies that need time to develop before they really hit their stride. This isn't one of them. It was too painful to watch for more than a minute at a time, which is a shame; Molly Shannon can be very funny. What makes something funny is its unpredictability, but there wasn't a line delivered that you couldn't recite before it was uttered. |
Our campus mission is to be a welcoming spiritual community, a place for people of any gender, race, national origin, and sexual orientation. Growing together in faith, we seek the unity that Christ envisions for His church through learning, liturgical worship, service, and fellowship. | |
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Late Night Breakfast Bible Study
 Waffles and the Word, all at one place. Join us for late-night breakfast bible study on Tuesday, October 21st at 10:30 p.m., in the fellowship hall of Christ Chapel. Eggs and bacon, too, and we'll be through by 11:30ish. Bring a friend. If this works, look for it to happen monthly. |
Wednesdays: Bread and Belonging
The weeks ahead will include:
October 15: "Prayer through PowerPoint."
October 22: "Hats: How Many Do You Wear?" - A prayer journey.
October 29: Everyday Saints: Luminaria-making in honor of All Saints Sunday. Come make a luminaria to remember a saint in your life; we will use them in worship on November 2nd.
Bread and Belonging is a no-experience necessary way to pray, and you are welcome to join us every Wednesday night. The service begins at 5:30, with a home-cooked free supper at 6:15. |
God Goes to the Movies
is where we watch a movie together and ask after God's word and will as it is portrayed (or not) in the film. Our next movie is October 23rd; we'll be seing "Iron Man" on our new flat-screen HDTV with Blue-Ray HD AND surround-sound stereo, courtesy of some generous folks on Christ Chapel's board of directors. Popcorn, soda provided. Yes, I know you've probably seen it, but let's watch it again for where the story's values intersect and collide with God's values for us.
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| What's My Purpose?
One of the first things students ask each other is, "What's your major?" And most of the time, one's major does say something about one's future hopes and plans. What the question doesn't answer is your life's purpose. That is a question not about your career, but your vocation. What's the difference? "Vocation" has at its root the Latin word "vocare," or calling. Your vocation is that calling from God to that place and work where your gifts and passions are used in service to the world. A career, on the other hand, may be nothing more than the way you earn a paycheck; your gifts and passions are not engaged, and service is not even part of the equation. But if your career and your vocation are one and the same, you are blessed, and so will be those whose lives your career touches.
Your time at college is time to find that vocation. Many will discover that their initial "calling" is not a fit at all, while others will be affirmed in the calling they disovered years before. And no, not every vocation is obviously self-sacrificing, like social work. God has need of ethical business owners, geographers, English teachers, accountants and so on. What matters is this: listening to that tug on your heart and mind and imagination. That's likely God calling, and that's one call it pays to answer. |
| Yoga and Health
Improve your health, relieve your stress; yoga can do both. Cindy Von Miller, a member of St. Mark's Episcopal, invites college students to join a yoga class in the fellowship hall on Wednesdays from 10:30 to 11:45 on Wednesday mornings. Donations are accepted, but not required! |
And a few other notes:
Faith Stories Students volunteering their own faith stories will now be a regular part of our Sunday evening worship services. You don't need to be profound; just tell it like it is, or just come listen to others students tell what God has been up to in their lives.
Wanted: Shy People You know who you are, and we know what it is like. But this I can promise: you will always be made to feel welcome and never embarassed here at Christ Chapel. Come give us a try. | |
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